Effects of dietary microencapsulated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cymbopogon flexuosus</Emphasis> essential oil on reproductive-related parameters in male <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhamdia quelen</Emphasis>

In aquaculture, nutrition and supplemented diets have been shown to affect broodstock reproductive performance. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil (CFEO) microcapsules on reproductive-related parameters in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) male broodfish. Adult male broodstocks were separated into three groups according to the concentrations of supplemented CFEO (0.0?=?control; 1.0 or 3.0 mL per kg of diet). After 20 days under experimental conditions, the animals were euthanized and the gonads were harvested for gonadosomatic index, sperm analysis, oxidative stress, and histopathology; testosterone levels were measured in the plasma; gene expression of prl, smtl, pomca, and pomcb was assessed in the pituitary gland by real-time PCR. The results showed no alterations on reproductive parameters in R. quelen males treated with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil compared to the control-diet animals. In conclusion, CFEO microcapsules supplied for 20 days in the concentrations of 1.00 or 3.00 mL per kilogram of diet did not affect the reproduction criteria evaluated in this study in male silver catfish.     

Late clinical expression of lameness related to associated osteomyelitis and tibial dyschondroplasia in male breeding turkeys.

A sudden outbreak of lameness related to transport stress is described in a flock of male breeding turkeys. Most of the affected turkeys exhibited obvious unilateral leg disorders. All were affected with tibial or metatarsal dyschondroplasia with at least one lesion associated with a large focus of necrosis. By histological examinations, bone lesions showed the typical feature of osteomyelitis. The inflammatory bone lesions appeared at only single isolated sites and were always associated with obvious sequestra of dyschondroplastic retained cartilage. Osteomyelitis seems to be an unexpected acute complication of previous dyschondroplasia in relation with different breeding stress situations. The resulting pain of the associated lesions could be the main cause of clinical expression of lameness. The pathogenesis of the phenomenon remains uncertain.     

Effect of trilostane on serum concentrations of aldosterone, cortisol, and potassium in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of trilostane on serum concentrations of aldosterone, cortisol, and potassium in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH), compare the degree of reduction of aldosterone with that of cortisol, and compare aldosterone concentrations of healthy dogs with those of dogs with PDH. ANIMALS: 17 dogs with PDH and 12 healthy dogs. PROCEDURE: For dogs with PDH, the initial dose of trilostane was selected in accordance with body weight. A CBC count, serum biochemical analyses, and ACTH stimulation tests were performed in each dog. Dogs were evaluated 1, 3 to 4, 6 to 8, and 10 to 12 weeks after initiation of treatment. Healthy dogs were evaluated only once. RESULTS: Serum aldosterone concentrations before ACTH stimulation did not change significantly after initiation of treatment with trilostane. At each evaluation after initiation of treatment, serum aldosterone concentrations after ACTH stimulation were significantly lower than corresponding concentrations before initiation of treatment. The overall effect of trilostane on serum aldosterone concentration was less pronounced than the effect on serum cortisol concentration. Median potassium concentrations increased slightly after initiation of treatment with trilostane. Dogs with PDH had significantly higher serum aldo sterone concentrations before and after ACTH stimulation than healthy dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatment with trilostane resulted in a reduction in serum cortisol and aldosterone concentrations in dogs with PDH, although the decrease for serum aldosterone concentration was smaller than that for serum cortisol concentration. There was no correlation between serum concentrations of aldosterone and potassium during treatment.     

Prevalence of subclinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows in the Sousa city micro-region,Paraíba state

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Subclinical hypocalcemia is a metabolic disorder characterised by a decrease in serum calcium (Ca) levels, with no clinical symptoms. The aim of this study...     

Insecticidal,repellent and fungicidal properties of novel trifluoromethylphenyl amides

Twenty trifluoromethylphenyl amides were synthesized and evaluated as fungicides and as mosquito toxicants and repellents. Against Aedes aegypti larvae, N-(2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3,5-dinitrobenzamide (1e) was the most toxic compound (24 h LC₅₀ 1940 nM), while against adults N-(2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide (1c) was most active (24 h LD₅₀ 19.182 nM, 0.5 μL/insect). However, the 24 h LC₅₀ and LD₅₀ values of fipronil against Ae. aegypti larvae and adults were significantly lower: 13.55 nM and 0.787 × 10⁻⁴ nM, respectively. Compound 1c was also active against Drosophila melanogaster adults with 24 h LC₅₀ values of 5.6 and 4.9 μg/cm² for the Oregon-R and 1675 strains, respectively. Fipronil had LC₅₀ values of 0.004 and 0.017 μg/cm² against the two strains of D. melanogaster, respectively. In repellency bioassays against female Ae. aegypti, 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetamide (4c) had the highest repellent potency with a minimum effective dosage (MED) of 0.039 μmol/cm² compared to DEET (MED of 0.091 μmol/cm²). Compound N-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)hexanamide (4a) had an MED of 0.091 μmol/cm² which was comparable to DEET. Compound 4c was the most potent fungicide against Phomopsis obscurans. Several trends were discerned between the structural configuration of these molecules and the effect of structural changes on toxicity and repellency. Para- or meta- trifluoromethylphenyl amides with an aromatic ring attached to the carbonyl carbon showed higher toxicity against Ae. aegypti larvae, than ortho- trifluoromethylphenyl amides. Ortho- trifluoromethylphenyl amides with trifluoromethyl or alkyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon produced higher repellent activity against female Ae. aegypti and Anopheles albimanus than meta- or para- trifluoromethylphenyl amides. The presence of 2,6-dichloro- substitution on the phenyl ring of the amide had an influence on larvicidal and repellent activity of para- trifluoromethylphenyl amides.     

Gamma-irradiation influence on the structure and properties of calcium caseinate-whey protein isolate based films. Part 1. Radiation effect on the structure of proteins gels and films

Brookfield viscosimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and measurements of the texture strength of gels formed with CaCl2 and the mechanical and barrier properties of the film were applied in studies of gel formation and structural and mechanical properties of gels and films prepared using calcium caseinate (CC)-whey protein isolate (WPI)-glycerol (1:1:1), control, and irradiated with 60Co gamma rays using a 32 kGy dose. The irradiated gels have appeared to be more "fine-stranded" as compared to the more "particulate" control gels and lead to the formation of more rigid films with improved mechanical strength and barrier properties. This results from cross-linking and the modification of protein conformations were induced by irradiation, in particular the increase in the beta-sheet and beta-strand contents. Structural modifications taking place in CC-WPI composition are related to modifications taking place separately in CC and WPI. Improvement of the properties of the films after irradiation corresponds to the increased density of the cross-linked material because no change in the porosity of the films was observed by TEM.